Enabling an im user to navigate a virtual world

ABSTRACT

A user is enabled to interact with a virtual world environment using an instant messenger application by enabling a user to enter the virtual world environment using the instant messenger application that includes an instant messaging (IM) user interface, generating and managing an avatar to represent the user in the virtual world environment, monitoring a sub-portion of the virtual world environment corresponding to a current location of the user in the virtual world environment, determining descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment based on the monitoring, and providing the user with the determined descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment via the IM user interface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/864,883, filed Nov. 8, 2006, and entitled “ENABLING AN IM USER TO INTERACT WITH A VIRTUAL WORLD”, and from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/824,537, filed Sep. 5, 2006, and titled “A SYSTEM FOR TRANSLATING PARALINGUISTIC INDICATORS.” The contents of the prior applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The document relates generally to a system and method for translating paralinguistic indicators.

SUMMARY

In one general sense, a user is enabled to interact with a virtual world environment using an instant messenger application by enabling a user to enter the virtual world environment using the instant messenger application that includes an instant messaging (IM) user interface, generating and managing an avatar to represent the user in the virtual world environment, monitoring a sub-portion of the virtual world environment corresponding to a current location of the user in the virtual world environment, determining descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment based on the monitoring, and providing the user with the determined descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment via the IM user interface.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, providing the user with the descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment may include providing the user with a textual description of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment. Providing the user with the descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment may include providing the user with a textual description of at least one of an environment associated with the sub-portion of the virtual world environment, proximity of other users to the user, and activities being performed by other users currently located in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment.

The user may be enabled to provide preference information related to descriptions provided to the user and provided with a description of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment in accordance with the preference information. Enabling the user to provide preference information related to descriptions provided to the user may include enabling the user to provide preference information related to at least one of a volume of descriptions to be provided to the user, a type of descriptions to be provided to the user, and a list of other users about whom descriptions are to be provided to the user.

A collection of descriptions determined to be relevant to the user may be accessed, and the collection of description may be related to a threshold number of descriptions with a number of descriptions determined based on the monitoring. The user may be provided with a sub-set of the descriptions based on relating the collection of description to the threshold number of descriptions. It may be determined that the collection of descriptions exceeds the threshold number of descriptions, and an interest rating may be determined for each of the descriptions in the collection of descriptions. The user may be provided with a sub-set of the descriptions based on the interest ratings.

Providing the user with a sub-set of the descriptions based on the interest rating may include accessing user interest preferences, comparing the interest ratings with the user interest preferences, and identifying descriptions to be included in the sub-set of the descriptions based on the comparison.

A detailed information request may be received from the user regarding a particular description provided to the user, and detailed information related to the particular description may be identified. The user may be provided with detailed information related to the particular description.

BACKGROUND

Users rely on a variety of applications to exchange information with other users.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network computing environment enabling communications between users of instant messaging clients and virtual world clients.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary instant messaging interface presented to a user of an IM client.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary virtual world interface.

FIG. 4 illustrates communications between an instant messaging system and a virtual world system.

FIG. 5 illustrates a table of exemplary emoticons and associated text triggers.

FIG. 6 illustrates a translation of paralinguistic indicators during communications between instant messaging system and a virtual world system.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a paralinguistic translation server.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplarily operation of a paralinguistic translation server.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary XML schema for expressing intermediate paralinguistic descriptions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Users of the virtual world systems, such as “Second Life,” may wish to communicate paralinguistic indicators (e.g., emotions, gestures, and moods) of their respective avatars to others who utilize text-based communications systems, such as instant messaging or email. However, paralinguistic indicators in virtual world systems may be richer (e.g., capable of displaying complex emotions or gestures) than paralinguistic indicators available in text-based communications systems. Consequently, paralinguistic indicators used in virtual world systems may not be compatible with paralinguistic indicators used in text-based communication systems.

For illustrative purposes, FIGS. 1-9 illustrate aspects (e.g., user interface, process flow, system diagram) related to a system for translating paralinguistic indicators at a paralinguistic translation server. A user of a virtual world (VW) system, who operates an avatar inside the virtual world, communicates with a user of an instant messaging (IM) system. For example, the VW user may wish to express a set of emotions or actions through the behavior of an avatar and have these emotions/actions communicated to the IM user. Thus, if the VW user is feeling angry, the VW user may communicate an angry mood through some actions of her avatar. Consequently, paralinguistic indicators of the VW user's avatar (e.g., gesticulations, actions, or facial expressions) are encoded as a set of data and transmitted from the VW system to the paralinguistic translation server. The paralinguistic translation server translates paralinguistic indicators of the VW system into the paralinguistic indicators of the IM system. For example, the paralinguistic translation server evaluates the avatar's paralinguistic indicators and translates these indicators into the at least partially synonymous or corresponding paralinguistic indicator(s) in the IM system. The paralinguistic indicators are then added to an instant message and transmitted to the IM user. The paralinguistic indicators in the IM system may be still indicators, such as an “angry face” emoticon, or more complex, animated indicators, such as expressions conveyed by an animated SuperBuddy®. The paralinguistic indicator(s) may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary networked computing environment 100 enabling communications between users of instant messaging (IM) clients and virtual worlds (VWs) clients. A network 110 interconnects client systems 105 a-105 d, which connect to network 110 through various communication mediums, such as a modem connected to a telephone line (using, for example, serial line internet protocol (SLIP) or point-to-point protocol (PPP)) or a direct internetwork connection (using, for example, transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP)). As such, users who are distributed geographically communicate using client systems 105 a-105 d. For example, users operating client systems 105 a and 105 b are utilizing instant IM clients to communicate with each other and virtual world users operating client systems 105 c-105 d. Similarly, users operating client systems 105 c-105 d are communicating within a virtual world and also with users outside of a virtual world. A virtual world presents an interactive three-dimensional (3D) graphical scene to users operating client systems 105 c-105 d, such that users operating client systems 105 c-105 d may interact via network 110 with the world and each other through textual, audio, and/or graphical communications.

Each of the client systems 105 a-105 d may be implemented using, for example, a general-purpose computer capable of responding to and executing instructions in a defined manner, a personal computer, a special-purpose computer, a workstation, a server, a device, a component, or other equipment or some combination thereof capable of responding to and executing instructions. Client systems 105 a-105 d may receive instructions from, for example, a software application, a client, a piece of code, a device, a computer, a computer system, or a combination thereof, which independently or collectively direct operations, as described herein. These instructions may take the form of one or more communications clients that facilitate communications between the users of client systems 105 a-105 d. For instance, such communications clients may include electronic mail (e-mail) clients, IM clients, virtual world clients, or voice-over-IP clients. The instructions may be embodied permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, component, equipment, storage medium, or propagated signal that is capable of being delivered to the client systems 105 a-105 d.

Client systems 105 a-105 d include a communications interface (not shown) used by the communications clients to send communications through network 110. The communications may include e-mail, audio data, video data, general binary data, or text data (e.g., data encoded in American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) format).

The network 110 typically includes a communications infrastructure facilitating communications between the different client systems, and may include one or more hosts. Examples of the network 110 include the Internet, Wide Area Networks (WANs), Local Area Networks (LANs), analog or digital wired and wireless telephone networks (e.g., a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)), an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), or a Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL)), or any other wired or wireless network. The network 110 may include multiple networks or subnetworks, each of which may include, for example, a wired or wireless data pathway.

Computing environment 100 also includes an instant messaging (IM) server 115 and a virtual world (VW) server 120 that are connected to network 110. The IM server 115 and the VW server 120 are used to facilitate direct or indirect communications between the client systems 105 a-105 d. As with the client systems 105 a-105 d, the IM server 115 and the VW server 120 may be implemented using, for example, a general-purpose computer capable of responding to and executing instructions in a defined manner, a personal computer, a special-purpose computer, a workstation, a server, a device, a component, or other equipment or some combination thereof capable of responding to and executing instructions. The IM server 115 and the VW server 120 may receive instructions from, for example, a software application, a client, a piece of code, a device, a computer, a computer system, or a combination thereof, which independently or collectively direct operations, as described herein. These instructions may take the form of one or more communications clients. Such communications clients may include, for example, e-mail clients, VW clients, IM clients, and voice-over-IP clients. The instructions may be embodied permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, component, equipment, storage medium, or propagated signal that is capable of being delivered to the IM server 115 and the VW server 120.

Further, the IM server 115 and the VW server 120 include communications interfaces (not shown) used by the communications clients to exchange communications through network 110. The communications may include different forms of data, such as e-mail data, audio data, video data, general binary data, or text data.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary instant messaging interface presented to a user of one of the client systems, such as the client system 105 a. The IM client enables a user to communicate in real-time with other users using text and other input. For example, the IM client enables the user to send text communications in an instant message, transfer files, and communicate using voice. Examples of IM clients include those provided by AOL (America Online's AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)), Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, and ICQ.

As shown, the IM system 200 presents a user with an IM user interface 205. User interface 205 includes a text box 210 that displays representations 215 of the user's contacts (e.g., an AIM Buddy appearing in an AIM BuddyList™), which are other users participating in an IM system, by executing an IM client on another client system. For instance, in the exemplary interface shown, there are representations for two contacts, “randomuser” and “otheruser.” The representations 215 provide status information for the user about the contact, such as whether the contact is online, how long the contact has been online, whether the contact is away, or whether the contact is using a mobile device.

The list of contacts displayed in text box 210 of user interface 205 may be referred to as a list of co-users, and the IM client user may add or remove contacts from the contact list. In the example shown, the representations 215 are rendered as icons showing the screen names of the contacts.

The IM clients may use the IM server 115 to assist in communications between users of the IM clients. The IM server 115 may be configured to interact with a different IM services irrespective of which IM client is being used. The IM server 115 also may support associated services, such as administrative matters, advertising, directory services, chat, and interest groups related to instant messages.

To facilitate the transfer of data, the IM server 115 may implement one or more standard or proprietary IM protocols. The one or more protocols may enable the IM server 115 to facilitate the establishment of a peer-to-peer communication session between the IM client clients, or assist IM communications by directly routing communications between the IM client clients.

To engage in IM communications when using an IM server 115, an IM client on one of client systems 105 a-105 d establishes a connection with the IM server 115, authenticating itself in the process. Once the IM client has been authenticated, the IM client indicates whether a particular contact is presently online, exchanging IMs with particular contacts, participating in a group chat room, or trading files, such as pictures, invitations or documents. The IM client also may refresh other information such as an indication of (or ability to search for) other users with similar interests, and customized information such as news and stock quotes, and search the World Wide Web.

When a contact is online, the user may communicate or interact with the contact in a number of ways. For instance, the user can send an instant message to the contact (typically in the form of text). Sending a message opens up a window 225 in which messages can be typed and viewed as they are communicated back-and-forth between the user and the contact. Window 225 includes a text box 230 and an edit box 235. The sent and received messages of the user are displayed in text box 230. The sender's (i.e., user's or contact's) screen name may be listed beside the sender's corresponding message in text box 230. For instance, in the exemplary window shown, the user (whose screen name is “randomuser”) has received a message “How's life?” from the contact (whose screen name is “b76”). To send a reply message, the user types the message in edit box 235 and activates a send command, for example, by pressing an ENTER key or selecting on a Send icon 240. In addition, an emoticon link 235 may be selected from window 225 to display a tool for specifying emoticons that are available when communicating with the contact. Generally, emoticons are two-dimensional images that are sent when certain triggers are included in the text of an instant message, as will be further discusses with respect to FIG. 5. For example, the character sequence ;) may be displayed as a “winking” smiley face. As a result of entering an emoticon, the entered text, along with the emoticons, is displayed in text box 230 within contact's user interface.

In addition to instant messaging, users of a network computing environment 100 may interact with each other inside a virtual world (VW) environment. FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary virtual world interface presented to users of the virtual world environment, such as users operating client systems 105 c-105 d of FIG. 1. Users operating client systems 105 c-105 d may interact in shared, three-dimensional virtual world through their respective avatars 310 a-310 b, which are graphical representations of users in the virtual world system 300. Users operating client systems 105 c-105 d control their avatars through an interface of a VW client 305. For example, the interface 305 enables users to cause their respective avatars 310 a-310 b to travel around, gesticulate, or communicate with other avatars within the virtual world via text messages, voice, or movements. In addition, VW users may direct their avatars 310 a-310 b to interact with the 3D graphical scene in the virtual world by creating, moving, or touching various objects and scene elements. Examples of VW clients include “Second Life” by Linden Research, Inc. and “Virtual Worlds” by Microsoft.

As shown, a virtual world system 300 presents a user with a VW client interface 305. User interface 305 has a graphical view box 307, which displays the 3D scene of the virtual world from a point of view of the user's avatar. In addition, user interface 305 has a high-level, topological map of the virtual world 315, which may show users operating client systems 105 c-105 d the current location of their avatar on the overall map of the virtual world and also may allow users operating client systems 105 c-105 d to quickly zoom in to the specific locations within the virtual world.

VW users operating client systems 105 c-105 d can communicate or interact with the virtual world in a number of ways. For instance, the user operating client system 105 c can send a message to the user operating client system 105 d (typically in the form of text). Sending a message is done by typing the message in a messaging window 320. The messages may be perceived as the messages are exchanged. Messaging window 320 includes a text box 325 and an edit box 330. For example, the sent and received messages of the user operating client system 105 c are displayed in text box 325. A user's screen name may be listed beside the avatar's corresponding message in text box 325. For instance, in the exemplary window shown, the user operating client system 105 c has received a message “Hi, how are you?” from the user operating client system 105 d (whose screen name is “b76”). To send a reply message, the user operating client system 105 c types the message in edit box 330 and activates a send command by, for example, pressing an ENTER key.

Users also speak to each other and other users by using voice communications. For example, the user operating client system 105 c may press a “Say” button 335 and begin a voice communications session with the user operating client system 105 d. In addition, users operating client systems 105 c-105 d may cause their avatars 310 a-310 b to gesticulate to each other and other avatars by selecting from a variety of gestures from a pull-down menu 340. Selecting a gesture from the pull-down menu 340 causes user's avatar to perform a specific action in the virtual world. For example, the user operating client system 105 c may select a “smile” gesture 340 a from a list of available gestures 340, which will cause user's avatar 310 a to smile. The actual number of available gestures or gesture combinations may be quite large. Users operating client systems 105 c-105 d may be able to cause their avatars to express a wide range of emotions, such as happiness, anger, or tiredness, by selecting from a variety of available gestures. For instance, the user operating client system 105 c may cause avatar 310 a to wince in pain and rub its belly to indicate a stomachache to the user operating client system 105 d. In addition, a user may customize the expressions presented by their avatar. For example, the avatar may modify a profile to configure certain facial configurations to be associated with a specified trigger and/or mood. Alternatively or in addition, the user may specify an intensity of emotion that lies within an intensity spectrum. For example, a user may interact with a control mechanism numbered from 0 until 1000, where 0 represents a neutral mood, 100 represents a perturbed mood, 200 represents being upset, up until a value of 1000 (representing extreme anger). Each of the numbers may represent a setting for a facial expression (e.g., an intensity of a facial expression such as a furrowed brow). In the case where the furrowed brow reflects the mood, a first “range of motion” to a first position may represent progressive moods from 0-100 while a second “range of motion” may represent more extreme moods to a second position.

In yet another example, users operating client systems 105 c-105 d may control their avatars through the use of video with face/gesture/mood tracking software. For example, users operating client systems 105 c-105 d may configure a desktop video camera to track user actions and expressions in the real world and translate these actions to the avatar actions or moods in the virtual world. Thus, for example, when the user operating client system 105 c smiles and waives his hand in front of the webcam, the face/gesture/mood tracking software will detect these actions of the user operating client system 105 c and cause his avatar to smile and waive a hand in the virtual world.

For mood tracking, users operating client systems 105 c-105 d may utilize mood tracking techniques described in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/321,063, filed on Dec. 30, 2005, entitled “Mood-based organization and display of instant messenger buddy lists,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. For example, users may train a mood tracking software for better mood recognition. To illustrate a training system, a mood tracking software may capture a user's facial image and analyze the user's facial expression as a baseline indicative of the user's mood. The mood tracking software may then present the user with a predicted image/mood indicator. The mood tracking system then may ask the user if the presented image/mood indicator is indicative of the mood felt by the user. Moreover, if the image/mood indicator is not indicative of expressed mood, the user may advance through a series of images captured during the training session to identify an image associated with the indicated mood. Another example used separately or addition to previously described examples allows a user to identify one or more components in a facial expression indicative of the desired mood (e.g., by allowing the user to highlight a brow structure, a lip structure such as a smile, or an existence of wrinkles in a particular portion). The above examples are only exemplarily and other techniques described in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/321,063 may be used for mood recognition.

The VW clients may use a virtual world server 120 to assist in communications between users of the VW clients. The VW server 120 may support VW services irrespective of a client user's network or Internet access. Thus, for example, VW server 120 may allow users to communicate with other users, regardless of whether they have access to any particular Internet service provider (ISP). The VW server 120 also may support associated services, such as billing, administrative matters, advertising, and directory services related to the virtual world.

To facilitate the transfer of data, the VW server 120 employs one or more standard or proprietary VW communication protocols. The one or more protocols may enable the VW server 120 to facilitate the establishment of a peer-to-peer communication session between the VW client clients, or assist VW communications by directly routing communications between the VW client clients.

To engage in VW communications when using the VW server 120, a VW client running on one of client systems 105 c-105 d establishes a connection with the VW server 120 and authenticates. Once authenticated, VW users operating client systems 105 c-105 d may use the VW client to create or modify their avatars 310 a-310 b, communicate with other VW users through avatars 310 a-310 b, or interact with the environment of the virtual world through avatars 310 a-310 b. For example, the user operating client system 105 c may build a “virtual” object, such as a house, and rent this house to the user operating client system 105 d for a fee. Then, the avatar 310 b of the VW user operating client system 105 d is able to inhabit the newly-built house and interact with the objects stored in the house.

VW users operating client systems 105 c-105 d may communicate with the users outside of the virtual world, such as IM users 105 a-105 b. This communications may be accomplished by sending instant messages between VW users operating client systems 105 c-105 d and IM users 105 a-105 b. Such communications may be either unidirectional or bidirectional—that is, VW users may send messages to IM users and/or IM users may send messages to VW users. Alternatively or in addition, such communications may include email, instant messages, voice communications, chat communications, voice-over-IP, or other communications.

For example, FIG. 4 illustrates communications between an IM system 200 and a virtual world system 300. The VW user operating client system 105 c may interact with the virtual world through a user interface of the VW client 405, which is similar to the previously discussed interface 305. The user operating client system 105 c is represented in the virtual world by her avatar 410. As described with respect to FIG. 3, actions of the avatar 410 are controlled by the user operating client system 105 c through the interface of the VW client 405. Here, for example, user operating client system 105 c has directed her avatar 410 to read a book in a virtual library. Hence, avatar 410 is surrounded by a rich graphical environment representative, which includes books 415 a, tables 415 b, and chairs 415 c. Avatar 410 may interact with any of these and other virtual objects.

The user operating client system 105 c may wish to communicate with the IM user 105 a. In this case, she sends a message from the VW interface 405 to the IM client of the IM user 105 a. For instance, in the exemplary window shown, the VW user operating client system 105 c (whose screen name is “b76”) has sent a message “How is life?” to the IM user 105 a. The sent message passes from the VW server 420 to the IM server 425 by way of the network 430, all of which have been described previously with respect to FIG. 1. The message is displayed to the IM user 105 a through an interface 435 of the IM client, which has also been described previously with respect to FIG. 1. To send a reply message to the VW user operating client system 105 c, the IM user 105 a may type the message in edit box 440 and press an ENTER key or click on a Send icon 445.

Communications between the virtual world and text-based clients, such as instant messaging or email, may suffer in at least one respect. The range of avatar emotions, gestures, or moods displayed in a graphical virtual world system may be much “richer” than a similar range of emotions available in a text-based system. In a virtual world, users may be able to express a wide range of their emotions or moods, such as happiness, anger, or tiredness, by choosing a variety of non-verbal indicators for their avatars, including gestures, actions, or facial or body expressions. These indicators, known as paralinguistic indicators, describe the non-verbal elements of communication used to modify meaning and convey emotion. Thus, in the virtual world communications, paralinguistic elements may be expressed by the avatar's facial expressions, gestures, and/or interactions with the surrounding virtual environment.

Similarly, in the text-based communications users have traditionally conveyed their emotions by placing specific paralinguistic indicators within email, chartroom, or instant messages. However, in contrast to the virtual world communications, the paralinguistic indicators in the text-based communications may be more constrained in their scope and expressiveness. For example, text-based paralinguistic elements may be displayed by emoticons, font or color choices, capitalization and the use of non-alphabetic or abstract characters. In particular, emoticons are two-dimensional non-animated images (and sometimes non-animated) that are sent when certain triggers are included in the text of an email, a chat room message, or an instant message. A trigger may include any letter, number, or symbol that may be typed or otherwise entered using a keyboard or keypad. For example, a user may indicate her mood by sending a “smiley face” emoticon by including a “:-)” trigger in the message. In another example, a user may indicate that the user is shouting by capitalizing a message.

Referring to FIG. 5, a table 500 of text-based triggers associated with the commonly used emoticons 505 is shown. Each of the emoticons 505 has multiple associated triggers 510 or 515 which convey a specific meaning 517. More particularly, by way of example, the emoticon 520 a, in which the avatar is made to smile, has associated triggers 520 b-520 c. Each of the triggers 520 includes multiple character strings. In particular, triggers may be include “sideways” expression triggers 520 a, such as “:)” and “:-)”, and English words, such as a “Nice” trigger 520 b. Other examples of a trigger include a particular abbreviation, such as “lol,” and an English phrase, such as “Oh no.” As discussed previously, when one of the triggers is included in an instant message, the corresponding emoticon is sent in that instant message. In one example, when “Nice” is included in an instant message, the smiling emoticon is sent. In another example, when a user includes a “:P” text trigger in the instant message, a two-dimensional image of a smiley sticking a tongue out is sent to a recipient of the instant message.

When the VW user operating client system 105 c communicates with the IM user 105 a, paralinguistic indicators used in the virtual world (e.g., gesticulations, actions, facial expressions) are translated to the paralinguistic indicators used in the IM communications using, for example, emoticons or a description of the avatar in the VW. Similarly, paralinguistic indicators included in the communications from the IM user 105 a to the VW user operating client system 105 c also may be translated.

The translated paralinguistic indicators need to be at least partially synonymous to the original paralinguistic indicators. In other words, the content of non-verbal communications associated with a translated indicator should reflect, correspond to, be related to, or be supported by the content of non-verbal communications associated with the original indicator. Thus, for example, a paralinguistic indicator of “happiness” in the VW should be translated to a similar (although not necessarily identical) indicator in the IM system, such as a large smiley or a happy face. And while a degree of translation between indicators may vary, some correlation between the original and the translated indicators should exist. Therefore, an indicator of “happiness” should not be translated to an indicator that carries a meaning that is entirely unrelated to the original meaning, such as “sleepiness” or “angry.”

FIG. 6 illustrates a system for translating paralinguistic indicators at a paralinguistic translation server 605. A user of a virtual world (VW) system 606 (previously described with respect to FIG. 3) is communicating with a user of an IM system 607 (as was previously described with respect to FIG. 2). The VW user operates an avatar 610 inside the virtual world. At some point, the VW user may wish to express a set of emotions or actions through the behavior of avatar 610 and have these emotions/actions communicated to the IM user. For example, if the VW user is feeling angry, the VW user may communicate an angry mood through actions of her avatar 610. The VW user may express her “virtual emotions” in a variety of ways. For instance, the VW user may indicate her anger by displaying the lighting bolts 615 around her avatar's face. In addition, a facial expression 620 of the avatar 610 and specific gesticulations, such as banging fists on the table 630, also may indicate an angry mood. Alternatively or in addition, the VW user may send a text message through the message window 640, where the contents, fonts, or colors of the text message itself may indicate a specific mood. For example, capitalization or very large fonts may indicate screaming. In yet another example, certain emotionally-charged words, such as “happy” or “angry”, may indicate the communicated emotions when they appear in the text message. The VW user also may utilize voice communications to communicate with the IM user. In that case, the actual content of the voice communications as well as audio qualities of the voice communications, such as volume or pitch, may be analyzed to determine the emotions/moods. The above indicators of emotions/moods are only exemplary. Other paralinguistic indications of moods/emotions may be used and also may depend on the specific environment of the virtual world system and the desires of the VW user.

The paralinguistic indicators are encoded as a set of data and transmitted from the VW system 606 to the paralinguistic translation server 605 (650). The set of data may be encoded in a binary format or in a markup language, such as HTML or XML. In one XML-based example below, the paralinguistic indicators describe some of the paralinguistic indicators of the user's avatar: <avatar version=″1.0″> <?xml version=″1.0″ encoding=″US-ASCII″ standalone=″yes″?>  <body body_region=″complete″ width=″512″ height=″512″   <body_part name=″hair″    hair_color = ″brown″    texture = ″curly″    length = ″long″   </body_part>   <body_part name=″face″    color = ″green″    texture = ″rugged″    mood = ″agitated″    expression = “angry”   </body_part>  </body> </avatar> The set of data specifying the paralinguistic indicators within the VW system 606 is received at the paralinguistic translation server 605. Subsequently, the paralinguistic translation server 605 translates paralinguistic indicators of the VW system 606 into the paralinguistic indicators of the IM system 607, such that the translated paralinguistic indicators of the IM system 607 are at least partially synonymous to the received paralinguistic indicators of the VW system 606. Therefore, the translated paralinguistic indicators reflect the content of the received paralinguistic indicators of the VW system 606. The translated paralinguistic indicators may reflect a robust set of content or just partial content, depending on a degree of translation.

In this example, the paralinguistic translation server 605 receives the set of data related to the avatar's mood in the VW system 606. The paralinguistic translation server 605 may evaluate the avatar's angry face 610, the lightning bolts surrounding the avatar 615, the hand gestures 630 a-630 b, or the actual content and capitalization of the message 640 (“I AM SO ANGRY!!!), and translate the virtual world's paralinguistic indicators into the synonymous paralinguistic indicator in the IM system 607, such as an “angry bat” emoticon.

The translated emoticon is converted to a set of data related to the paralinguistic indicator in the IM system 607. For example, the paralinguistic translation server may encode the “angry bat” emoticon in such a combination of text triggers that would cause the IM system 607 to display the “angry bat” emoticon on the IM interface 670 when the instant message is received at the IM system 607.

Finally, the paralinguistic translation server transmits the set of data related to the translated paralinguistic indicator (e.g., “angry bat”) to the IM system 607 (660). For example, the text triggers related to the “angry bat” emoticon are transmitted along with the text of the instant message to the IM user. When the IM user receives the instant message from the VW user, the IM user sees not only the text of the IM, but also the emoticons 675 displayed by the IM client. These emoticons are at least partially synonymous to the paralinguistic indicators (e.g., emotions, moods, actions, etc) of the VW user's avatar in the virtual world.

The above example demonstrated translation of paralinguistic indicators from the virtual world system to the instant messaging system. Additionally or alternatively, a similar translation may be used to translate communications from the IM system 607 to the VW system 606. For example, the user of the IM system 607 may type a message that includes some paralinguistic indicators, such as smiley faces. The instant message is then transmitted to the user of the VW system 606. In the course of processing the message, the paralinguistic indicators in the instant message are translated at the paralinguistic translation server 605 so that the VW user, in response to receiving an instant message from the IM user, may observe the translated paralinguistic indicators in the virtual world environment. For instance, if the IM user is represented by an avatar in the virtual world, the avatar displays emotions/actions that are at least partially synonymous to the meaning of the paralinguistic indicator in the instant message. Thus, if the IM user transmits a winking emoticon (“;-)”) to the VW user, the avatar for the IM user also may wink in the virtual world. In addition to the previously-described paralinguistic indicators, the IM user also may provide a variety of textual commands to control the behavior of his avatar in the virtual worlds. For instance, a user may type “lol,” “ROFL” or <bang fists>, or <take 3 steps> or other combination of text-triggers/commands to cause his avatar to perform at least partially synonymous actions in the virtual world.

FIG. 7 illustrates a translation system 700 that includes an exemplary paralinguistic translation server 705. Paralinguistic translation server 705 is structured and arranged to receive, from a source, a first set of data 710 related to a first paralinguistic indicator that is configured to enable non-verbal communications between a source and a destination, wherein the source is one of an instant messaging system and a virtual world system and the destination is one of the textual instant messaging system and a virtual world system but differs from the source. Paralinguistic translation server 705 is also structured and arranged to translate the first set of data 710 related to the first paralinguistic indicator into a second set of data 735 related to a second paralinguistic indicator that is at least partially synonymous to the non-verbal communications associated with the first paralinguistic indicator, and to transmit the second set of data 735 to the destination.

In more detail, paralinguistic translation server 705 includes a parser 720 that is structured and arranged to perform parsing on data sets related to paralinguistic indicators. The parser 720 includes parsing interfaces 720 a-720 d. Parsing interfaces 720 a-720 d are capable of decoding data sets related to paralinguistic indicators from various instant messaging, email, or virtual world clients, and converting the decoded data sets into a common intermediate paralinguistic format. Alternatively or in addition, parsing interfaces 720 a-720 d may be used to convert data specified in the common intermediate paralinguistic format back into the specific formats used by the various instant messenger, email, or virtual world clients. Thus, the parser 720 may include interfaces 720 a-720 d for encoding or decoding data sets using a proprietary IM interface. Alternatively or in addition, the parser 720 may include interfaces for encoding or decoding data sets using the proprietary interfaces of different VW clients, such as Second Life.

Paralinguistic translation server 705 also includes a translator 725 that is structured and arranged to translate a set of data 710 related to the first paralinguistic indicator into a second set of data 735 related to a second paralinguistic indicator, such that the second paralinguistic indicator is at least partially synonymous to the first paralinguistic indicator.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart 800 of an exemplarily operation of paralinguistic translation server 705 of FIG. 7. Paralinguistic translation server 705 receives, from a source, data set 710 related to a first paralinguistic indicator(s) (step 805). Data set 710 may be received, for example, from the VW server and thus, would describe paralinguistic indicators in the virtual world. Data set 710 may also be received from the IM server, and would then describe paralinguistic indicators in IM interface. Data set 710 may be specified in an Extensible Markup Language (XML), HTML, Python, the format used by the VW or IM clients, or any other open or proprietary format or scripting language. Data set 710 also may include a combination of text data, voice data, and video data.

Paralinguistic translation server 705 converts the received data 710 to an intermediate paralinguistic description (step 810). The conversion may use an intermediate paralinguistic description because protocols and formats used by different VW clients or IM clients are incompatible. Thus, a Yahoo instant messenger client and an AIM client may require different text triggers to elicit the same emoticon. Similarly, different virtual world clients also may use proprietary/incompatible formats related to the paralinguistic indicators. Therefore, paralinguistic translation server 705 may decode data sets expressed in different formats into the common format before proceeding with the actual translation. Operating on data sets in the common format enables a paralinguistic translation server 705 to translate the abstract meaning between paralinguistic indicators of different clients while avoiding additional complexity that may result from a requirement to operate in the particularities of the clients' data formats.

Paralinguistic translation server 705 may decode data set 710 into the intermediate paralinguistic description 715 using a parser 720. Intermediate paralinguistic description 715 may be expressed in an XML-based format. One illustrative example of an XML-based format for describing paralinguistic indicators is Emotion Annotation and Representation Language (EARL), currently in development by the W3 community. The XML-based format for describing paralinguistic indicators may include emotional tags for specifying emotions. Both simple and complex emotions may be specified. In addition, emotions may be grouped by categories, such as “negative and passive”, “agitated,” or “caring.”

The XML-based format for describing paralinguistic indicators may be capable of describing a variety of emotional states by using emotional tags of varying complexity. A simpler emotional tag utilizes various attributes to specify a category, dimensions (e.g., intensity) and/or appraisals of a single emotional state. Emotional tags may include text, links to other XML nodes, or specify a time span using start and end times to define their scope.

In one implementation, an emotional tag may specify a homogenous emotion. For example, referring back to FIG. 6, the following XML tag may describe a simple angry emotion in the message 640:

-   -   <emotion category=“anger”>I AM SO ANGRY!!!</emotion>

On the other hand, a more complex emotional tag describes an emotion that is composed of several emotions. For example, complex emotions may be used in cases where two or more emotions co-occur, or situation where one emotion is masked by the simulation of another one. The table below specifies an exemplary XML schema for specifying complex emotions. Each complex emotion can have different intensity, modality, or probability. The intensity variable specifies the intensity of the emotion. The modality variable specifies how the emotion is expressed—e.g., the emotion may be expressed through speech, facial expressions, or specific body gestures. The probability variable assigns a probability to an event that a specific emotion will occur or is actually occurring. Other attributes of complex emotions, such as time durations for each sub-emotion, may be used. <xsd:schema xmlns:xsd=“http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema”>   <xsd:simpleType name=“modalityType”>     <xsd:enumeration value=“voice”/>     <xsd:enumeration value=“text”/>     <xsd:enumeration value=“face”/>     <xsd:enumeration value=“body”/>   </xsd:simpleType>  <xsd:attribute name=“modality” type=“modalityType” use=“optional”/>  <xsd:attribute name=“probability” type=“xsd:float” use=“optional”/>  <xsd:attribute name=“intensity” type=“xsd:float” use=“optional”/> </xsd:schema>

For example, the following XML tag may describe a complex angry emotion expressed by the avatar 610 in FIG. 6: <complex-emotion>  <emotion category=“anger” modality=“face” intensity=“0.5/>  <emotion category=“stress” modality=“face” />   <emotion category=“anxiety” modality=“body” /> </complex-emotion> As can be seen from the above example, the described complex emotion not only takes into account the facial expressions 620 of the avatar 610, but also its various gesticulations, such as hand movements 630. As a result, a much more complete emotional snapshot may be conveyed for the avatar 610.

The paralinguistic translation server 705 next translates intermediate paralinguistic description 715 into translated intermediate description 730 (step 815). However, the translating process also may be performed directly on the data related to the paralinguistic indicators without first converting it to the intermediate paralinguistic format 715. For example, the paralinguistic translation server 705 may translate directly between paralinguistic indicators of the IM and the VW clients if these clients use the same or similar format for describing their paralinguistic indicators.

A variety of methods may be utilized at the paralinguistic translation server 705 for translating between paralinguistic indicators, whether they are expressed in the intermediate paralinguistic format 715 or not. For example, translation tables may be used. That is, direct translations may be identified from/to the paralinguistic indicators (or their intermediate descriptions) of the IM client to/from the paralinguistic indicators of the VW client.

For example, the paralinguistic indicators expressed in the intermediate format 715 may be first matched based on the category of emotions described in the schema shown in FIG. 9 (e.g., “happiness”, “anger”). Next, the paralinguistic translation server selects a synonymous emotion appropriate for the IM client from the same emotional category. However, because the expressive capabilities of the IM client may be limited when compared to the expressive capabilities of the VW client, some complex emotions in the virtual world, especially the ones involving gesticulations or movements may not translate directly into the limited set of emotions available to the IM client. In such cases, the paralinguistic translation server 705 may convert (i.e., downgrade) the complex emotion from the virtual world to either a less complex emotion or a simple emotion for the IM client. In addition, the paralinguistic translation server 705 may add textual descriptions to the paralinguistic indicators to describe or supplement the translated paralinguistic indicators from the virtual world. In situations where the complexity of the emotion expressed in the virtual world is less than the complexity of the available emotion in the IM client, an upgrading conversion may be required. For example, additional parameters may be added to the translated paralinguistic indicator intended for the IM client.

Alternatively or in addition, more complex translation techniques may be used. For example, the paralinguistic indicators may be translated using XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations), by using neural networks that identify similar expressions and emotions (even if not identical), or by utilizing knowledge-based machine translation.

Two examples of translating paralinguistic indicators follow. The first example describes a translation of paralinguistic indicators sent from the IM client to the VW client. The second example describes a translation of paralinguistic indicators sent from the VW client to the IM client.

In the first example, an IM user (e.g., user 120 a from FIG. 1) sends an angry message to the VW user (e.g., user operating client system 105 c from FIG. 1). Specifically, the IM user 105 a sends a message to the VW user operating client system 105 c, which includes a “>:-<” trigger indicating an “absolutely livid!” emotion. The paralinguistic translation server 705 receives the instant message, decodes its contents using the IM interface 720 c, and retrieves the data related to the paralinguistic indicator of the IM user 105 a. In this example, the data includes a “>:-<” trigger. Parser 720 converts the received paralinguistic indicator to the intermediate paralinguistic format 715. For example, because the ‘absolutely livid’ emotion is more complex than a simple “mad” or “angry” emotion, the paralinguistic translation server 705 may convert “absolutely livid” to the following exemplarily complex emotion: <complex-emotion>  <emotion category=“anger” modality=“face” arousal=“0.9”  power=“0.6/>  <emotion category=“agitation” modality=“face” arousal=“0.3”  power=“0.5/> </complex-emotion>

The paralinguistic translation server 705 also adjusts numerical values of the parameters of the complex emotion, such that the complex emotion most closely matches the parameters of the original paralinguistic indicator. Next, the paralinguistic translation server translates the complex emotion expressed in the intermediate paralinguistic format 715 to a synonymous complex emotion 730 that would be appropriate in the virtual world, while taking into the account the visual capabilities of the virtual world. For example, because the avatars in the virtual world are capable of expressing not only facial expressions, but also gesticulations, the paralinguistic translation server may add additional parameters to the complex emotion, such as hand or head movements. Other various facial/physical expressions and actions may be added to fully capture the emotion in the virtual world. The resulting translation may look as the following: <complex-emotion>  <emotion category=“anger” modality=“face” arousal=“0.9”  power=“0.6/>  <emotion category=“agitation” modality=“face” arousal=“0.3”  power=“0.5/>  <emotion category=“frustration” modality =“body” arousal=“0.4”  power=“0.7/>  <emotion category=“confusion” modality=“body”/> </complex-emotion>

In the second example, VW user operating client system 105 c communicates with the IM user 105 a. For example, the VW user operating client system 105 c places his avatar in an elated mood. In addition, the VW user operating client system 105 c makes his avatar display various celebratory hand gestures, such as “high fives.” The paralinguistic translation server 705 receives data 710, which specifies avatar's actions/mood in the virtual world and decodes data 710 by using the VW interface 720 a. Using the previously described parsing process, the paralinguistic translation server 705 converts the decoded data from the VW client into the intermediate paralinguistic format 715. For example, avatars actions/mood/emotions may be converted to the following exemplarily complex emotion: <complex-emotion>  <emotion category=“happy” modality=“face” arousal=“0.9”  power=“0.6/>   <emotion category=“elation” modality=“face” arousal=“0.5”   power=“0.5/>  <emotion category=“ excitement ” modality=“figure” power=“0.2/> </complex-emotion>

Subsequently, the paralinguistic translation server 705 translates the complex emotion of the virtual world to a synonymous complex emotion that would be appropriate for the instant messaging, while also taking into the account the visual capabilities of the IM client. For example, because the visual capabilities of the IM client are limited when compared to the visual capabilities of the VW client, some complex emotions in the virtual world, especially the ones involving gesticulations or movements may not translate directly into the limited set of emoticons available to the IM client. In such a case, the paralinguistic translation server may convert the complex emotion from the virtual world to either a less complex emotion or a simple emotion. Additionally or alternatively, the paralinguistic translation server 705 may add textual descriptions to the instant message to describe or supplement the translated paralinguistic indicators. For example, the paralinguistic translation server may add “avatar waiving hand+ jumping around the purple fountain” text to the instant message to describe avatar's actions in the virtual world. The resulting translation of the virtual world's paralinguistic indicator may look as following:

<emotion category=“happy”> avatar waiving hands + jumping around </emotion>

In the next step, the translated complex emotion expressed as the intermediate paralinguistic description 730 is converted into a set of data 735 having an appropriate format for the destination (step 820). This may be accomplished by parser 720, which encodes the intermediate paralinguistic description 730 using the appropriate interface. Therefore, in the case of the first example, (IM to VW translation), parser 720 uses VW interface 720 a to convert the intermediate paralinguistic description 730 into the VW format. In the case of the second example, (VW to IM translation), parser 720 uses IM interface 720 c to convert the intermediate paralinguistic description 730 into the IM data. For instance, the IM interface 720 c encodes the above emotion as “ˆ5” (high five) and “:-))” (very happy face) and inserts these text triggers into the instant message 735. Alternatively or additionally, the IM interface 720 c may supplement the instant message 735 with textual descriptions of the actions taking place in the virtual world. For example, the textual description “randomuser is very happy, jumping around the purple fountain and waiving hands” is inserted in the text of the instant message 735.

Finally, encoded data 735 is transmitted to a destination (step 825). In case of the first example, the resulting data 735 related to the paralinguistic indicators, now in the VW format, is then transmitted to the VW server. Consequently, the avatar of the IM user in the virtual world shows an angry face while also displaying some frustrated hand gestures. In case of the second example, the resulting data specifying the translated paralinguistic indicators in the IM format 735 is transmitted to the IM server or the IM client. Consequently, the IM client displays the text of the transmitted instant message, along with the translated emoticons, on the IM user's desktop.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary XML schema that may be used to represent mood information as paralinguistic indicators are translated between IN and VWs. The schema 900 supports a number of different emotions, which are grouped by emotional categories 905 a-905 g, such as “negative and forceful”, “positive and lively,” or “caring.”

The schema 900 is capable of describing a variety of emotional states by using emotional tags of varying complexity. A simpler emotional tag utilizes various attributes to specify a category, dimensions (e.g., intensity) and/or appraisals of a single emotional state. Emotional tags may enclose text, links to other XML nodes, or specify a time span using start and end times to define their scope.

The paralinguistic translation server also may translate paralinguistic indicators by evaluating not only one indicator at a time, but also using an overall paralinguistic state of a user. That is, some users do not (or may not) abruptly transition between moods. For example, if a user is unhappy, the user may remain in an unhappy state of mind for some time. As a result, even if the user includes a “happy” emoticon in the instant message after thirty minutes of angry communications, it is possible that the happy emotion is highly transient or is not fully established. Thus, the paralinguistic translation server may track the user's paralinguistic state and utilize that state during the current or future translations of paralinguistic indicators. The paralinguistic state may be based on the context of current/previous textual communications as well as the previous values of the paralinguistic indicators collected over some time period. The XML-based values of emotional parameters discussed with respect to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 may be used during calculations of the user's paralinguistic state. In one example, the paralinguistic translation server may keep a running average of paralinguistic values (e.g., category, modality, probability, intensity, etc.) to ensure that the user's translated emotions do not transition abruptly. Additionally or alternatively, the paralinguistic translation server may return the user's paralinguistic indicators back to the original state or an adjusted state if the paralinguistic translation server determines that user's emotional change was merely transient. Maintaining persistency in the user's paralinguistic state may allow the paralinguistic translation server to convey more realistic behavior on behalf of the IM user. A short example to illustrate the above concept follows.

An IM user is represented by an avatar in the virtual world. The paralinguistic translation server tracks the IN user's paralinguistic state. For example, based on the previous communications, the paralinguistic server determines that the IM user has been in an “angry” state for over 5 minutes. As a result, the IM user's avatar has been continuously placed in an “angry” state as well. Then, the IM user sends an instant message which includes a “smiley” emoticon. The paralinguistic translation server may detect that the “smiley” emoticon conflicts with the IM user's currently “angry” paralinguistic state. As a result, the paralinguistic translation server may translate the paralinguistic indicator (i.e., “smiley” emoticon) to a partially synonymous paralinguistic indicator in the virtual world (e.g., cause avatar to smile), but then return the IM user's avatar to the previous “angry” state. Additionally or alternatively, the paralinguistic translation server may adjust the IM user's state to “less angry.” Thus, IM user's avatar would return to an angry or somewhat less angry state after smiling, but would not immediately transition to the “smiling” state.

In one implementation, translating a mood or expression may be performed using a hierarchy of moods to address inconsistencies between capabilities in the IM and VW systems. For example, a user in a VW system may be furious, which does not appear as a registered mood in the IM system. The paralinguistic translation server may recognize that “furious” is a subset of “angry”, which the IM system does recognize. As a result, the paralinguistic translation server may translate the “furious” to “angry” in response to determining that the IM system does not recognize the value “furious” and that “furious” is a subset of “angry.”

In addition to allowing an IM user to communicate with users of a virtual world client, as described above, a user may further interact with the virtual world environment using only a text-based communications client, such as, for example, an IM or email client. In this way, such a user, referred to as an IM user, may navigate the virtual world to cause an avatar that represents the IM user within the virtual world to move from one virtual world location to another. To do so, the IM user may execute commands, by typing them into an IM client window, that cause the avatar to move within the virtual world. The following shows some exemplary commands and associated actions. Command Associated Action <walk forwards, backwards, moves the avatar forwards, backwards, left, or right left, or right> from the avatar's current location <fly to location X> causes the avatar to fly to a particular location identified in the command in place of the letter “X” <teleport to location X> causes the avatar to teleport to a particular location identified in the command in place of the letter “X” <move proximate to/away moves the avatar next to, or away from, a particular other user from user Y> identified by name in the command in place of the letter “Y”

As the IM user navigates the virtual world, the avatar's current location may be monitored in order to provide the IM user with a textual description of the environment of a sub-portion of the virtual world corresponding to the avatar's current location in the virtual world. Such monitoring may be automatically performed when the avatar enters a new location, and/or an IM user may request such monitoring by executing a <look around> command.

The description of the environment may include a description of the physical environment (e.g., green grass, a blue house, a clothing store, and a red car), a description (or listing) of other users that are proximate to the avatar (e.g., users A, B, and C are nearby), and a description of activities taking place in the avatar's current location (e.g., user A is talking to user B, user C is walking her dog, a juggler is performing on the corner, and three users are playing a game of catch in the square).

In some instances, the IM user may not receive all possible environmental descriptions, proximate user descriptions, or activity descriptions that are determined to exist within the avatar's current location. For example, the IM user may be enabled to provide preference information related to the descriptions that are provided to the user. The user may provide preference information related to (1) a volume of descriptions to be provided to the user (e.g., provide up to 5 environmental descriptions for a particular location, provide up to 25 names of users who are proximate to the avatar, or provide a list of 10 activity descriptions per 15 minutes), (2) a type of descriptions to be provided to the user (e.g., only provide activity descriptions), and/or (3) a list of other users about whom descriptions are to be provided to the user (e.g., provide proximate user descriptions for users A, B, and C, or provide activity descriptions for users D and E).

In another example, the number of descriptions provided to an IM user may be limited based on a default, or user-defined, threshold number of descriptions. The threshold number of descriptions may be a total threshold (e.g., a total number of environmental, proximate user, and activity descriptions that may be provided to a user), or a different threshold number of descriptions may be determined on a per-description category basis (e.g., an environmental description threshold of 25 descriptions, and an activity description threshold of 15 descriptions).

In the case where the number of descriptions determined based on monitoring the avatar's current location substantially exceeds a particular threshold number of descriptions, an interestingness rating for each of the determined descriptions may be determined, and a sub-set of all current descriptions may be provided to the user based on the interestingness ratings. The interestingness rating may be, for example, based on an IM user's preferences (e.g., a user prefers activity descriptions to environmental descriptions), on a generic interestingness rating (e.g., activities involving two users are more interesting than those involving a single user), or on an interestingness rating provided by other users (e.g., a user who is juggling may assign a high interest rating to the juggling activity being performed by that user). Furthermore, particular objects, users, and activities may have default interestingness ratings. For example, on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 representing a high interestingness rating, a tennis ball may have an interestingness rating of 15, while a two users kissing may have an interestingness rating of 75.

In some implementations, an interestingness rating may be used to determine which descriptions to provide to a user regardless of whether a threshold number of descriptions is exceeded. For example, an IM user may indicate that only descriptions associated with the top 10 interestingness rated objects, users, or activities should be provided for any particular location. In another example, the IM user may indicate that only descriptions associated with objects, users, or activities that exceed a particular interestingness rating threshold (e.g., above an interestingness rating of 65) should be provided to the IM user. Additionally, or alternatively, a system default may be set to determine how many, and how often, descriptions of different interestingness ratings should be provided to an IM user.

If an IM user wishes to receive more information about a particular description, the IM user may execute a <more detail about “description”> command. The IM user may identify the description about which the IM user wishes more information by identifying the description in the “description” portion of the command. A description may be identified using, for example, a description ID, which may be provided with the description, the entire description, or a keyword from the description. Additionally, or alternatively, the IM user may execute a <look closer at Z> command, where the user provides a name of another user, or a name of an object or a portion of a location, in the place of the “Z,” where the IM user has previously received a description related to Z. For example, an IM user may receive a description that reads “randomuser is singing.” To receive more information about this description, such as the name of the song that randomuser is singing or where randomuser is located, the IM user may execute the command <more detail about “singing”> or the command <look closer at “randomuser”>. In response to the <more detail . . . > or <look closer . . . >command, the user may be provided with a description that indicates “randomuser is singing the song “Love Me Do” by the Beatles” or a description that indicates “randomuser is singing from the far street corner.”

As described above with respect to FIG. 2, the IM system 200 presents a user with an IM user interface 205 that includes text box 210 that displays representations 215 of the user's contacts in a co-user list. An IM user may manually add or remove contacts from the co-user list. However, the co-user list also may be automatically configured based on navigation of the virtual world by the IM user and interaction with other users within the virtual world.

For example, a first user (e.g., an IM user) may navigate the virtual world using an IM client application as described above. An avatar that represents a second user (e.g., a user that is interacting with the virtual world using a virtual world client, a text-based client, or some other means) is detected as being located proximate to the first user. The IM client may determine if the second user is already included in a co-user list associated with the first user. If so, the IM client may enable the first user to begin a communications session with the second user. If not, the IM client may determine whether to add the second user to the co-user list associated with the first user.

To determine whether to add a particular user to a co-user list, one or more attributes associated with the particular user may be determined. There are two types of attributes: positive attributes and negative attributes. Users associated with positive attributes may be added automatically added to a co-user list associated with a first user when the first user and the positively attributed user are located proximate to one another. Users associated with negative attributes may not be added to such a co-user list, or, if the user is already included in the co-user list, may be removed, and blocked, from the co-user list. In some implementations, for a particular user that is already included in a co-user list, a communications session may be automatically initiated with the particular user only if the particular user is associated with a positive attribute.

Attributes may include activity that a user has engaged in previously, or is currently engaging in, as well as interactions between a user and other users. Examples of positive activity attributes include performing community service such as picking up litter, helping other users find a location or an object, and engaging in any non-negative activity. Examples of positive interaction attributes include hugging another avatar, smiling at another avatar, and shaking hands with another avatar.

Examples of negative activity attributes include engaging in destruction of property, littering, or shouting obscene or offensive language in a large group. Examples of negative interaction attributes include attempting, or engaging in, violent behavior towards another user, harassing another user, speaking to another user in an obscene, or offensive manner, or, in some situations, engaging in adult conduct in a public space.

Activities and interactions may be categorized as positive or negative attributes based on predetermined criteria set by, for example, a system administrator, or based on user preference information specific to an IM user.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from spirit and scope of the claims. For example, the operations may be performed in a different order and/or the components in the disclosed systems may be combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components. As an example, the paralinguistic translation server may be located on the IM server, VW server, or client computers. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A method for enabling a user to interact with a virtual world environment using an instant messenger application, the method comprising: enabling a user to enter the virtual world environment using the instant messenger application that includes an instant messaging (IM) user interface; generating and managing an avatar to represent the user in the virtual world environment; monitoring a sub-portion of the virtual world environment corresponding to a current location of the user in the virtual world environment; determining descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment based on the monitoring; and providing the user with the determined descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment via the IM user interface.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the user with the descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment comprises providing the user with a textual description of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the user with the descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment comprises providing the user with a textual description of at least one of an environment associated with the sub-portion of the virtual world environment, proximity of other users to the user, and activities being performed by other users currently located in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: enabling the user to provide preference information related to descriptions provided to the user; and providing the user with a description of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment in accordance with the preference information.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein enabling the user to provide preference information related to descriptions provided to the user comprises enabling the user to provide preference information related to at least one of a volume of descriptions to be provided to the user, a type of descriptions to be provided to the user, and a list of other users about whom descriptions are to be provided to the user.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising: accessing a collection of descriptions determined to be relevant to the user; relating the collection of description to a threshold number of descriptions with a number of descriptions determined based on the monitoring; and providing the user with a sub-set of the descriptions based on relating the collection of description to the threshold number of descriptions
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising: determining that the collection of descriptions exceeds the threshold number of descriptions, determining an interest rating for each of the descriptions in the collection of descriptions; and providing the user with a sub-set of the descriptions based on the interest ratings.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein providing the user with a sub-set of the descriptions based on the interest rating comprises: accessing user interest preferences; comparing the interest ratings with the user interest preferences; and identifying descriptions to be included in the sub-set of the descriptions based on the comparison.
 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving a detailed information request from the user regarding a particular description provided to the user; identifying detailed information related to the particular description; and providing the user with detailed information related to the particular description.
 10. A system that enables a user to interact with a virtual world environment using an instant messenger application, the system comprising instructions on a computer readable medium that when executed on a processor cause the processor to: enable a user to enter the virtual world environment using the instant messenger application that includes an instant messaging (IM) user interface; generate and managing an avatar to represent the user in the virtual world environment; monitor a sub-portion of the virtual world environment corresponding to a current location of the user in the virtual world environment; determine descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment based on the monitoring; and provide the user with the determined descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment via the TM user interface.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein providing the user with the descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment comprises providing the user with a textual description of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment.
 12. The system of claim 10 wherein providing the user with the descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment comprises providing the user with a textual description of at least one of an environment associated with the sub-portion of the virtual world environment, proximity of other users to the user, and activities being performed by other users currently located in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment.
 13. The system of claim 10 wherein the instructions further comprise operations for: enabling the user to provide preference information related to descriptions provided to the user; and providing the user with a description of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment in accordance with the preference information.
 14. The system of claim 13 wherein enabling the user to provide preference information related to descriptions provided to the user comprises enabling the user to provide preference information related to at least one of a volume of descriptions to be provided to the user, a type of descriptions to be provided to the user, and a list of other users about whom descriptions are to be provided to the user.
 15. The system of claim 10 wherein the instructions further comprise operations for: accessing a collection of descriptions determined to be relevant to the user; relating the collection of description to a threshold number of descriptions with a number of descriptions determined based on the monitoring; and providing the user with a sub-set of the descriptions based on relating the collection of description to the threshold number of descriptions
 16. The system of claim 10 wherein the instructions further comprise operations for: determining that the collection of descriptions exceeds the threshold number of descriptions, determining an interest rating for each of the descriptions in the collection of descriptions; and providing the user with a sub-set of the descriptions based on the interest ratings.
 17. The system of claim 16 wherein providing the user with a sub-set of the descriptions based on the interest rating comprises: accessing user interest preferences; comparing the interest ratings with the user interest preferences; and identifying descriptions to be included in the sub-set of the descriptions based on the comparison.
 18. The system of claim 10 wherein the instructions further comprise operations for: receiving a detailed information request from the user regarding a particular description provided to the user; identifying detailed information related to the particular description; and providing the user with detailed information related to the particular description.
 19. A system that enables a user to interact with a virtual world environment using an instant messenger application, the system comprising: means for enabling a user to enter the virtual world environment using the instant messenger application that includes an instant messaging (IM) user interface; means for generating and managing an avatar to represent the user in the virtual world environment; means for monitoring a sub-portion of the virtual world environment corresponding to a current location of the user in the virtual world environment; means for determining descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment based on the monitoring; and means for providing the user with the determined descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment via the IM user interface. 